SYDNEY: Social media companies have collectively deactivated nearly five million accounts belonging to Australian teenagers just a month after a world-first ban on under‑16s took effect, the country’s internet regulator said, a sign the measure has had a swift and sweeping impact.
The eSafety Commissioner said platforms had so far removed about 4.7 million accounts held by under-16s to comply with a law that went live on Dec 10. Some platforms had said they would start closing affected accounts in the weeks before the deadline.
The figures represent the first government data on compliance and suggest platforms are taking significant steps to adhere to a law that could see them fined up to A$49.5 million (US$33 million) for non-compliance but does not hold children or their parents liable.